Balancing demands: Doherty educator finds outlet in workouts

Serving as an assistant principal in a city high school is no small task. Discipline is a major part of the job, and keeping hundreds of students in line can be a challenge.

Eddie Capstick is one of four assistant principals at Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester, where he helps supervise 1,500 students.

“It can be stressful,” Capstick said in his office one afternoon last week, after overseeing hoards of teenagers board buses or stream down to Highland Street for the walk home after school. “You need an outlet.”

For Capstick, that outlet is working out. At least five times a week, he heads to the gym after work, sometimes lifting weights, sometimes doing cardiovascular exercise.

“Each day I do something different to keep it fresh,” he said.

Capstick, 50, has been an athlete all his life. He grew up in the Columbus Park neighborhood of the city and played basketball at South High School. As a student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he took up boxing, later fighting out of a gym on Exchange Street in Worcester. He said he had 45 fights, and in 1984 won a Golden Gloves title, fighting as a middleweight.

“It got me into running. I enjoyed working out and staying in shape,” Capstick said. “I've always tried to maintain some exercise regimen.”

These days, that usually involves an after-school trip to the Greendale branch of the YMCA. On two successive days, he will lift weights, concentrating on different parts of the body. After a day off, he'll do three days of cardio workouts, which might include a run around Indian Lake or on a treadmill, or a session on the stair stepper.

Capstick likes the intense workout of the stair stepper best. “It's hell when you're going through it, but when you're done it's a great feeling,” he said.

He often sees his students at the Y, and not just the Doherty athletes, and as an educator is encouraged to know they too value a healthy lifestyle.

For 15 years, Capstick coached the Doherty boys' varsity basketball team. Since moving to his assistant principal post, Capstick serves as assistant coach. Besides his coaching duties, he stays busy watching his son and daughter play sports.

Eddie Jr. plays on the varsity basketball team at Wheaton College, and Emily plays basketball, field hockey and lacrosse at Doherty. While basketball season can be especially hectic, it's important for Capstick to catch his kids' games.

“If they're playing, that's where I'm going to be,” he said.

It's also a priority for him to stay fit, despite working, coaching and watching his son and daughter play.

“You find the time,” he said, whether that's walking for 20 minutes or working out for an hour or two.

“If you're doing something physical, it's going to enable you to lead a healthier and longer life,” he said.

No Excuses is a monthly feature that focuses on busy people who manage to make fitness part of their lives. If you or someone you know have figured out how to manage that healthy balance, we'd like to hear about it. Contact us at people@telegram.com.